Chapter 43: Sun Buer Falls From the Sky
“Iron Leg Immortal” Wang Chuyi taught Zhou Yan the “Golden Goose Skill” and Quanzhen Sect’s introductory Internal Energy cultivation technique within the courtyard in Zhongdu. He also expounded on the Taoist Sect’s crucial energy circulation methods, detailing for him “Five Hearts Facing the Origin” and “Combining the Four Symbols,” and mentioning obscure terms and jargon like “One Yang” and “Six Times.”
Zhou Yan was currently circulating energy to temper the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian according to Yuyangzi’s teaching method.
It was nearing the end of the Yin hour, when Yang energy was just beginning to emerge, full of vitality. The Inner Qi, warming up from the Dantian, circulated within the body and then moved to below the little toe, diagonally across the sole of the foot, emerging below the Ran Gu acupoint, following behind the inner ankle bone, branching into the heel, ascending the inner thigh, exiting the inner posterior aspect of the thigh, traversing the spine to connect with the Kidneys, and linking to the Bladder.
This Inner Qi flowed like spring rain gathering in a stream, coursing through the uneven riverbed, repeatedly cleansing and nourishing, solidifying the channels, and irrigating the 27 acupoints. This cycle repeated, and finally, the Inner Qi surged out from the Zi Lao acupoint at the outer corner of the eye, entering the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, ascending to the temple area, descending behind the ear, folding upwards, passing the forehead to above the eyebrow, returning behind the ear, washing the Feng Chi acupoint, and then descending along the side of the neck into the Supraclavicular Fossa.
In the annotations of the Quanzhen Internal Energy cultivation technique, the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian belonged to the Wood element, and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian belonged to the Water element.
When Water combines with Wood, it flourishes. Zhou Yan’s cultivation in this manner was naturally twice as effective with half the effort. Both main meridians were tempered by pure and refined Inner Qi, strengthening his Gallbladder Qi and filling his Kidney Qi. He felt as if his body was bathed in warm sunlight, an indescribable comfort.
At the Chen hour, as the sun began to rise and Yang energy was abundant, Zhou Yan faced east, welcoming the morning glow. His energy circulated through Shaoyang, making his body agile and light, as he focused on tempering the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian.
When inhaling, he was like a tiger lying in the mountains and forests; when exhaling, he was like a dragon moving through wind and clouds. With each breath, his pelvis expanded, and his hips, sacrum, and coccyx all moved. He suddenly felt as if he could lift himself and soar.
This was the sign of the “Golden Goose Skill” steadily improving, though it appeared slow.
Huyan Lei returned from diligently practicing the Yue Family Spear Technique, his body radiating heat. He glanced at Zhou Yan and wondered, “Brother Zhou’s cultivation, wasn’t it in a different direction before? Is he absorbing moonlight and consuming sun essence? Good heavens!”
Huyan Lei tiptoed over to Zhang Wangyue.
“Escort Head, what kind of cultivation technique is Brother Zhou practicing? It feels like the art of absorbing and expelling the essence of the sun and moon that storytellers talk about.”
This was his limitation. Huyan Lei’s martial arts were quite impressive among escorts, and in the Jianghu of Legend of the Condor Heroes, he could contend with figures like Hou Tonghai. However, he practiced External Style martial arts and was completely ignorant of Internal School matters.
Mei Chaofeng obtained the 《Nine Yin Manual》, which contained phrases like “Five Hearts Facing the Origin” and “Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.” She did not understand their meaning and ultimately ended up going mad. If it weren’t for Guo Jing, she would have starved to death in the Zhao Wang Manor.
If Zhou Yan lacked this foundation, even if he had the opportunity to obtain the true manual, it would be difficult for him to cultivate it.
As Huyan Lei asked this, Zhang Wangyue, who was knowledgeable, replied, “Brother Zhou is practicing a Taoist Sect cultivation technique.”
“How does he know Taoist Sect techniques?”
Zhang Wangyue smiled slightly, “People have opportunities. Looking at the present, those martial arts prodigies who can roam the Jianghu at such a young age, besides their own talent, who hasn’t had an opportunity? However, since it is an opportunity, what is destined to be will be, and what is not, one should not force.”
Huyan Lei quickly said, “Exactly, I understand this principle.”
Zhang Wangyue nodded and said, “You should also rest. We will depart in an hour.”
“Alright!”
Zhou Yan clearly heard their conversation. He felt warmth in his heart, considering it a great fortune to have met people like the Escort Head and escorts who were like good teachers and friends.
As the escort team was about to depart, his thoughts returned. He ceased his cultivation, lay on his side, and entered a state of tranquil detachment, his mind clear and empty, without a single worry. His breathing was steady, his soul not scattered inward, nor his spirit wandering outward, and he fell asleep.
The Jade Guanyin on his person began to emit a gentle aura, relaxing his muscles and activating his collaterals.
Huyan Lei looked again and turned to Zhang Wangyue, saying, “I’ve often seen Brother Zhou’s sleeping method when resting on the road. It always reminds me of ‘Dreaming Arhat’.”
Zhang Wangyue couldn’t help but chuckle.
When Zhou Yan woke up, the sounds of birds chirping melodiously filled the mountains and fields, creating a misty and ethereal scene of “mist shrouding the streams and mountains, with mountains embracing the mist.”
The runners had lit a campfire and were boiling water in an iron pot to cook noodles.
When the escort team traveled, they often ate in the open air. Their morning and evening meals were mostly noodles, supplemented by flatbreads during rest stops. However, whenever Zhou Yan was present, the meals would always be improved.
The escort team camped by the river. After washing up, he took his bow and entered the mountain forest. In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he returned carrying four wild rabbits and two wild pheasants.
The runners, who had been eagerly waiting since he entered the forest, joyfully came to take the chickens and rabbits to pluck feathers, skin them, clean them, cook them, and cook noodles in the broth.
During the meal, Zhou Yan’s bowl had the most meat.
In fact, many runners didn’t even get a shred of meat, but with noodles in meat broth, what more could they ask for?
Zhou Yan sometimes even liked this kind of life. Coming from modern society and cultivating in the Ancient Tomb for ten years, he felt he couldn’t do that at least for now.
To throw oneself into the midst of blades, to roam the mortal world with a sword in hand, he still preferred this saying of Li Mochou.
The escort team set off again, traveling from Shangluo to Nanyang, passing Xinye, and steadily approaching Xiangyang. They traveled through mountains and rivers, and although the journey was long, it was peaceful. Zhou Yan continued to practice diligently. Based on his senses when guiding energy with his intent, he felt he was close to thoroughly tempering and clearing one main meridian.
The escort team did not enter Xiangyang and traveled southwest. Around noon, endless rolling mountains appeared in Zhou Yan’s sight, and his thoughts began to drift.
Dugu Qiubai’s Sword Tomb should be in these mountains.
Clouds in the sky, the sky above the mountain gorge was cut into a strip, hanging above Zhou Yan’s head. At this moment, the horse team was behind them. Suddenly, the escort team in front stopped, and the clamor of mules and horses could be heard.
A runner from the front sent a message saying that their team had encountered the escort team from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency of Lin’an Prefecture, and the two teams had collided.
Zhou Yan remembered that when he was drinking with Huyan Lei at Songhe Tower, the latter had mentioned the Four Great Escort Bureaus in the world, one of which was the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. He also recalled that the Escort Head of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency had later joined the Fu’an Escort Agency after delivering a personal safety escort.
He and Huyan Lei dismounted and walked forward.
After walking for two li, a large embroidered escort flag appeared in Zhou Yan’s sight, with the words written in a powerful script: “Zhang.”
Zhou Yan had not known before that the Boss of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was surnamed Zhang. Seeing the large characters, he was stunned for a moment, thinking that this should have no relation to Zhang Xian of the Yue Family Army and was purely a coincidence.
Shi Baichuan, who was ahead, saw Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei and quickly walked over.
“Old Brother Shi, what’s going on?”
Shi Baichuan said, “It’s an escort from Guanzhong that’s blocked here. We have less than three li to go to get out, but they just won’t let us pass.”
Huyan Lei said, “The Dragon Gate Escort Agency shouldn’t be so unreasonable.”
“There are all sorts of people in a big forest. The escort leader is a young man, arrogant and overbearing,” Shi Baichuan spat. “And the escorts are calling us Jin Soldiers’ running dogs. Damn it, I want to go up and slap them. The Escort Head is negotiating.”
“I have the same thought.” As soon as Zhou Yan finished speaking, the trees on the cliff above shook, and forest birds took flight in alarm.
All experienced individuals, Huyan Lei and Shi Baichuan shouted in unison: “Guard the escort!”
Zhou Yan removed his quiver, took out his iron bow, and drew a long arrow. Above his field of vision, a Taoist nun, light as a falling goose, descended rapidly. Above the steep cliff, sunlight was suddenly torn open, and the woman, enlarging her form, descended with murderous intent, stirring up wind and dust, lunging towards the Taoist nun.
Zhou Yan’s pupils contracted. He practiced the “Golden Goose Skill” and recognized that the Taoist nun was using this movement technique. Looking at her skill, it seemed inferior to Yuyangzi Wang Chuyi, but it was by no means comparable to his own.
Qingjing Sanren Sun Buer, this name suddenly popped into his mind.
